Julius Caesar - Commentaries

Caesar's writings are better treated a discussion of Latin literature. Here, it is sufficient to say that of those preserved to us, the seven books Commentarii de bello Gallico appear to have been written in 51 B.C. and carry the narrative of the Gallic campaigns down to the close of the previous year (the eighth book, written by A. Hirtius, is a supplement relating the events of 51-50 B.C.), while the three books De bello civili record the struggle between Caesar and Pompey (49-48 B.C.).

The veracity of Caesar's commentaries was impeached in ancient times by Asinius Pollio and have often been called in question even by modern critics. The Gallic War, though its publication was doubtless timed to impress on the mind of the Roman people the great services rendered by Caesar to Rome, stands the test of criticism as far as it is possible to apply it, and the accuracy of its narrative has never been seriously shaken.

The commentary on the Civil War, especially in its opening chapters is, however, not altogether free from traces of misrepresentation. With respect to the first moves made in the struggle, and the negotiations for peace at the outset of hostilities, Caesar's account sometimes conflicts with the testimony of Cicero's correspondence or implies movements which cannot be reconciled with geographical facts.

Unfortunately, we have but few fragments of Caesar's other works, whether political pamphlets such as the Anticato, grammatical treatises (De Analogia) or poems. All authorities agree in describing him as a consummate orator. Cicero (Brut. 22) wrote: de Caesare ita judico, illum omnium fere oratorum Latine loqui elegantissime, (roughly: of all the Latin orators, he is the most eloquent), while Quintilian (x. i. 114) says that had he practised at the bar he would have been the only serious rival of Cicero.

Julius Caesar - Character

Julius Caesar

Rome the Eternal City

Sitemap

Travel